1. SHARON-‘ABBAS MEETING TO BE HELD IN TWO WEEKS… The much anticipated meeting between Ariel Sharon and Mahmoud ‘Abbas will be held in about two weeks. Top aides for both men met in Jerusalem on Wednesday to work out details of the summit and to discuss a joint security plan that includes a cease-fire, the transfer of security control of certain cities to the Palestinian Authority, and the question of what to do with Palestinians that are on Israel’s “wanted list.” Senior Sharon confidant Dov Weisglass told the Palestinian delegation headed by Muhammad Dahlan and ‘Saib ‘Ariqat that Israel is willing to put a halt to all of its military activity if there is a complete cessation of terror attacks. The Israelis held one caveat: what they called the “ticking time bomb” referring to terrorists known to be involved in imminent attacks. In such cases, the security officials will require approval from the politicians in order to act. Israel is preparing a list of confidence-building gestures for the Palestinians aimed at shoring up ‘Abbas’s popular support and to reward the new Palestinian leadership for reining in terror. Foremost among the gestures: the expected release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
2. PHYSICIANS WARN OF POST-WITHDRAWAL HEALTH DISASTER IN GAZA STRIP… The international organization Physicians for Human Rights has warned that a major humanitarian disaster looms large in the aftermath of Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from Gaza. In a report released on Wednesday, the group charged Israel with the responsibility to “plan and implement the rehabilitation of the Palestinian health system in the Gaza Strip.” Specifically, it warned that Israel must allow Palestinians in Gaza to travel to Israel or abroad to obtain certain medical treatments and procedures including cardiac catheterizations, radiotherapy, MRIs and burn treatment. Thousands of Palestinians presently obtain such services in Israel. The organization estimated that it will cost $250 million annually for health services in Gaza to reach parity with Jordan.
3. GAZANS VOTE IN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS… Residents of the Gaza Strip are going to the polls on Thursday to elect municipal officials. It is the first time such elections are being held. Observers will be watching to see how terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad fare in the aftermath of Mahmoud ‘Abbas’s election as president of the Palestinian Authority. Due in large part to social services the groups offered to residents that were not receiving them from the P.A. itself, the terror groups amassed strong support, particularly in the Gaza Strip. Analysts at The Media Line explain Thursday’s vote is being seen as a barometer of public confidence in the new government.
4. IRANIAN OFFICIALS THREATEN TO ‘RESPOND FORCEFULLY’ TO ISRAELI ATTACK… The war of words between Jerusalem and Tehran continues with a threat by Iran to “respond forcefully” if attacked by the United States or Israel. President Bush said last week that military action against the Iranian nuclear reactor has not been ruled out, and on the eve of his inauguration Vice President Cheney invoked the possibility of Israel doing so. Israel’s spy chief Meir Dagan said this week that Iran will reach the technological point of no return in its nuclear program by the end of the year. The Media Line reports that Brigadier General ‘Ali Ja’afari, head of the ground forces in the Iranian National Guard was quoted by the London-based A-Sharq Al-Awsat as saying that Iran will “respond to any foolish movement from Israel.” The Iranian news agency IRNA reported that the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Rahim Safavi said that the U.S. and Israel would not dare to attack Iran but added that the IRGC has mobilized its forces to deal with any such aggression.
5. NEW TEST SAYS SHROUD OF TURIN REALLY IS THAT OLD… The Shroud of Turin is between 1,300 and 3,000 years old according to a new test conducted by a retired chemist from Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, U.S. The new test discredits a 1988 test that concluded the famed artifact, believed by some to be the burial shroud of Jesus, was a medieval fake. Raymond Rogers said the cloth tested in 1988 was cut from a piece of fabric used by nuns in the 1500s to repair damage caused by a church fire.